Fish tank air pump aeration?

`. does anyone use a fish tank air pump to aerate their wort? and how are the results, how long for a 5gal batch etc. cost?

ibrewdou said:

`. does anyone use a fish tank air pump to aerate their wort? and how are the results, how long for a 5gal batch etc. cost?

Click to expand...

I personally do not use an aquarium pump, but I know lots of guys do.. The recommended time to use it in your wort is about 20 minutes.. Cost you around 15 to 20$ for a decent pump.. Personally, I just use a brewing spoon and stir the s**t out of my wort until the foam starts to creep up the neck of the fermenter.. At least 5 minutes.. Never failed me yet... I just could never see the extra expense.. I figured as long as I got arms, I can stir my wort and probably do a better job than an airpump....

I usually do an hour. You will need a sterile filter and a deep tank aquarium pump - the later so it has enough pressure to bubble up from the bottom of a 5g batch. Another trick I use is to thread the sanitized air hose through my sanitized racking cane to put the air at the bottom of the fermentor. I do not use an air stone as I'm not confident it can be sanitized.

GT

For the same amount of cash as a deep water air pump, you can get:

A cheap propane torch with removable head. ($15)
Solid Brass Pencil Flame Torch, Fracture Groove For Improved Safety Wh

A .5micron steel airstone ($14)(can be boiled and sanitized)
Austin Homebrew Supply

add one piece of tubing from hd/fish store and all you need is the oxygen tube from HD. ($8?)

much cheaper than a deep air pump, and better.

Tetra Tetratec Deep Water Air Pump Air Pumps

Top Fin XP30 - rated for 36" head = $12.99

Cheaper: No
Faster: Yes
Better: they both put oxygen into your wort...

GT